Drag

“This feels refreshing”: Fans react to this week’s dramatic Drag Race UK episode

By Jordan Robledo

12th October 2024

The latest episode of Drag Race UK season six release was filled with drama, and fans absolutely loved it.

Spoilers ahead.

Following last week’s shocking episode, which saw Saki Yew leaving the competition due to a foot injury, the remaining queens returned to the workroom to decompress and gag over Lill’s win.

“I think the others can see me as real competition now. Maybe I’m a silent assassin? Maybe I’m going to sneak up and steal all of the badges,” the Manchester queen exclaimed in a confessional.

The room’s joyous mood took an awkward turn when La Voix asked Chanel O’Conor how she felt about Lill’s win, considering she made a big portion of the latter’s runway ensemble.

“I’ll say this, I’m just glad it didn’t go to [Marmalade],” she shadily revealed.

When asked to clarify her answer, Chanel added: “‘Cause at the end of the day, I thought it was going to be between me and [Marmalade]. And for me, I wanted that badge but if I can’t have it, I rather it go to [Lill].

The revelation certainly shook up the workroom, with the other ladies sensing the immediate tension between Chanel and Marmalade.

Zahirah Zapanta then chimed into the conversation and delivered her own shade.

“Yeah, but regardless of the fact, we all saw the lip-sync, and Chanel wouldn’t have won anyway,” Zahirah cheekily said.

In response, Chanel said, “My skill is in sewing, that’s why she was there,” a statement Lill swiftly denied.

Chanel added that there would be tension when two seamstresses are pit against each other, which resulted in Marmalade exclaiming, “I’m not feeling that.”

In an additional confessional, the Welsh queen gave further insight into her confusion: “Literally, not two minutes ago, she was telling RuPaul how much we all worked together. Where the fuck is this coming from?”

While de-dragging, the drama continued to brew between Chanel and Marmalade, with the latter confronting the former over her pointed comments.

“The way you made me feel on the settee, I just really didn’t like it. Because it felt like frustration that you didn’t win a badge and I was the easy target, is how I felt quite frankly,” Marmalade explained.

Chanel was quick to defend herself, exclaiming: “I’m sorry for that, but at the end of the day, you and me are the biggest seamstresses here. So obviously, we’re going to be put against each other. We are here for a competition, we’re here for badges, and see, if I don’t win something, I am going to throw my toys out of the pram.”

The conversation and Chanel’s unbothered response resulted in Marmalade’s emotional exit from the room, which left the other queens in shock.

The next day, the ladies returned to the workroom refreshed and ready to tackle their next maxi-challenge.

However, before Ru could make her fabulous entry, Marmalade broke her silence on last week’s dramatic set of events. 

“Yes. I walked out of the werkroom because I was feeling angry, so I needed to remove myself to think so that I could actually articulate what I want to say to you,” she explained.

“The statement that I was only, what, 10% in the group is, in the nicest way, a crock of shit. I think you didn’t win, and I felt it was part of your personality to come back here and find someone to blame. Between me and Lill, you maybe thought of me as the little puppy that you could kick, but that’s not me at all.”

After defiantly exclaiming that she was a dragon, the Welsh queen continued to read Chanel for flip-flopping with her opinions.

“So, I love you. I respect you. It’s just I felt so amazing, and you made me feel like shit. And no-one here is going to make me feel like shit, especially when I crushed the challenge, and that’s all,” she concluded.

In response, Chanel apologised to Marmalade, stating that there were so many emotions and that she had “completely changed into someone she didn’t like to be”.

Fortunately, the queens were able to hug it out before Ru entered the workroom. Ironically, the legendary host tasked the girls with a dirty laundry mini-challenge, which saw them revealing how they really felt about each other.

After a hilarious round of hijinks, Ru revealed this week’s maxi-challenge.

“Well, it looks like we’ve gotten all the dirty laundry out, but I’ve got one more chore for you to do. For this week’s maxi-challenge, you’ll be spoofing one of the UK’s greatest exports – the British romcom,” she explained. “You’ll break into two acting troupes. Troupe leaders will be our pants queen, Charra Tea, and our basic queen, Zahirah.”

Team Charra consisted of Actavia, Dita Garbo, Marmalade, and Kiki Snatch.

Team Zahirah comprised Kyran Thrax, La Voix, Lill, Rileasa Slaves and Chanel.

“Team Zahirah, you’ll be starring in the trailer for Hate Actually. Which means Charra Tea, the trailer for 40 Funerals and a Wedding is all yours,” Ru added.

Before exiting the werkroom, Ru informed the troupe leaders that they were responsible for assigning the roles. Fortunately, both teams had little to no issues distributing the parts.

After learning their lines, the ladies headed to the green stage to film their respective trailers before staple Drag Race judge and director Michelle Visage.

Throughout the creative process, Rileasa, Chanel, Kyran, Charra, and Marmalade proved to be the standouts of the challenge with their unique and quirky performances.

The next day, the ladies returned to the werkroom to prepare for the impending elimination.

While getting ready, Dita and Kiki bonded over sharing they/them pronouns and their non-binary identities.

“When I first had those feelings of, like, feeling different, I didn’t even know that lesbians existed. Definitely not trans, non-binary. You know, kids these days, they’re experimenting, and yes, if I knew about all these things growing up, I would have probably experimented too,” Dita explained.

In an additional confessional, the Folkstone-based queen expressed the importance of exploring your identity regardless of age.

“I meet people that don’t even come out as being gay later in life, whereas actually, you should explore who you are, because that’s going to make you the person you are for the rest of your life,” she added.

On the other side of the werkroom, Actavia and Zahirah shared a wholesome conversation about their close relationships with their family, with the latter opening up about her late father.

“My dad was really masculine but he always told me he loved me and he always supported me. Whether I was selling cookies in the playground or whether I’m a drag queen in the club, he was always cheering me on,” Zahirah added in a confessional.

The Filipino queen went on to state that her dad would have been proud of her for landing Drag Race UK.

With their mugs finished, the contestants hit the runway to show off their New Romantics ensembles and watch their British romcom trailers.

After naming Lill, La Voix, Chanel, Actavia, and Charra as safe, Ru and the judges – including guest Simon Le Bon – delivered critiques for the tops and bottoms of the week.

While Rileasa, Kyran, and Marmalade were praised for their trailer performances and runways, the same couldn’t be said for Dita, Zahirah or Kiki, who struggled to fully wow the judges with their work.

In the end, Ru named Kyran the winner of the challenge before placing Dita and Kiki in the bottom.

To the beat of Duran Duran’s ‘Girls on Film,‘ the two talents laid it all out on the stage, delivering dramatic moments, lyric-inspired choreography and high energy.

Ultimately, RuPaul asked Kiki to stay and Dita to sashay away from the competition.

“I feel absolutely gutted to be eliminated, but I feel proud of what I represented, and I’ve got a sisterhood, which I have never had before. So girls, you’re going to do season six proud,“ Dita said in her exit interview.

Since its release, fans have flocked to social media to share their unfiltered reactions to this week’s dramatic episode.

One person on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: “This episode of #DragRaceUK… the drama at the beginning, the mirror moments, the challenge… it was so fun!!! This feels so refreshing.”

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, writing: “Marmalade read Chanel O’Conor in the MOST elegant way possible like— she ate Chanel the FUCK up. I’m OBSESSED.“

A third fan added: “If someone had told me Marmalade’s speech in Untucked was performed by Viola Davis or Olivia Colman, I’d believe them. Serving drama mama!“

On next week’s episode of Drag Race UK season six, the queens will be tasked with participating in the beloved girls group challenge.

Check out more fan reactions below.